Composition and method for conditioning grains

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a grain conditioner composition for treating grain prior to rolling the grain into flakes so as to cause increased water uptake and gelatinization, wherein the grain conditioner composition of the invention is an aqueous solution of a propylene glycol nonionic surfactant and a water soluble base where the composition has a pH of at least 9.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 633,809, now abandoned, filed Dec. 26, 1990, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 413,870, filed Sep. 28, 1989, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,993.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to compositions and a method for conditioning feed grain prior to delivery of the grain to flake processing machinery. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of an aqueous solution of a nonionic surfactant and a water soluble base to condition feed grain.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Feed grains, such as barley, oats, corn, wheat, milo and others, for feeding cattle are typically processed to aid in their digestion as well as to increase the intake of nutrients. Such processing usually takes the form of rolling the feed grain into flakes after softening the grain through moisture uptake. Numerous commercial products are available which assist moisture uptake prior to steam assisted or dry rolling to reduce the cost of the processing and to increase the moisture uptake prior to rolling. The increase in moisture uptake is desirable so as to allow the production of thinner, higher volume flakes to be produced during the rolling process.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,615,653 to Fults et al. discloses an acidic aqueous solution containing lignosulfonate and a wetting agent for breaking down the relatively hard waxy coating of the grain so as to provide accelerated penetration of the solution into the endosperm of the grain for improved starch gelatinization and nutrient utilization when the feed grain is subjected to mechanical processes, such as rolling or flaking.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,682,653 to Mommer is directed to a grain conditioner composition for application to a mass of whole kernel grain so as to prepare the grain kernels before steam-rolling or flaking of the grain kernels. The composition of the Mommer patent is an aqueous mixture of liquid lecithin, and a mold-inhibitor food grade acid, such as propionic acid, which is capable of reducing the pH of the lecithin and thus permitting the lecithin to become water dispersable. It is indicated in the Mommer patent that the propionic acid penetrates the waxy coating of the grain and lecithin reduces surface tension of water so as to increase the penetration of moisture into the grain. The lecithin serves as a lubricant to adapt the grain kernel mass to flow more freely without bridging and to reduce friction on the grain when the grain is later processed by rolling to produce flakes.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,766 to Goodall is directed to a grain conditioning mixture for increasing water intake of the grain so as to improve gelatinization and digestibility. The grain conditioning mixture is Yucca extract containing sarsaponin mixed with propylene glycol and water. The grain conditioning composition of the Goodall patent is preferably used in combination with known grain conditioners, such as the products known by the trade marks of E-Z FLAKE™, which is the trademark for the product made in accordance with the Mommer patent; TEMPER, which is the trademark for the product made in accordance with the Fults patent; and SUPER KEM-FLAKE. These three trademark products which are described in the Goodall patent are all acid based.

From the foregoing discussion of the prior art, it is readily seen that it has been thought in the grain processing industry that an acid based conditioner is required to cause moisture to penetrate into the grain kernel. The acid based compositions of the prior art include surfactants and the acid is thought to be necessary to cause the surfactant to act on the moisture to reduce the surface tension of the moisture and to cause moisture to penetrate the grain kernel.

It is a surprising result of the present invention that a nonionic surfactant can be caused to reduce surface tension of water and to penetrate grain kernels in a highly basic solution. The use of a nonionic surfactant in a highly basic solution offers numerous advantages over prior art grain conditioning compositions. There is less corrosion of equipment used in grain processing and there are cost advantages in the use of nonionic surfactants and basic materials, as compared to the use of acid components in the prior art grain conditioning compositions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a grain conditioner composition for treating grain prior to dry or steam-rolling the grain into flakes so as to cause increased water uptake and gelatinization. The grain conditioning composition of the invention is an aqueous solution of a nonionic surfactant and a water soluble base. The grain conditioning composition of the present invention has a pH of at least 9 and preferably has a pH in the range of from about 9 to about 12. In an important embodiment of the invention, urea or propylene glycol is present in the grain conditioning composition as an antimycotic. A preferred mixture contains 0.5 to 7.0% potassium carbonate and 0.5 to 1.5% of a nonionic propylene glycol surfactant with the balance of the mixture being water. The resultant mixture has a pH in the range of 9 to 12.

Before being used for application to grain, this mixture is further diluted with approximately about 30 to about 99 parts of water to provide an even distribution of the grain conditioning composition in the grain feed application. Applications of the grain conditioning composition are accomplished through a reservoir tank containing the grain conditioning composition, a pump for the flow of water, a metering pump for adding the grain conditioning composition to the water flow and a spray nozzle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Any of the well known nonionic surface active agents are useful in the practice of the present invention. Nonionic surface active agents are organic substances which contain groups of varying polarity and which render parts of the molecule lipophilic, whereas other parts of the molecule are lipophobic.

A preferred group of nonionic surfactants is selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, polyethylene glycol monooleate, polyoxyethylene glycol dioleate, polyoxyethylene glycol, polyoxypropylene glycol, diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono/diglycerides, propylene glycol, and mixtures thereof. A particularly preferred nonionic surfactant is polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethelene glycol block polymer, which is known by the common name "poloxalene". More preferably, propylene glycol is used as the nonionic surfactant.

Poloxalene is specifically approved for use as a surfactant in grain conditioners by the United States Food and Drug Administration, 21 CFR § 573.760. The approved poloxalene has a molecular weight range of 2850-3150, a hydroxyl number of 35.7-39.4, and a cloud point (10% solution) of 42° C.-46° C. In accordance with the regulations, poloxalene may be used in an amount not to exceed one percent of the grain conditioner and the grain conditioner may be added to the grain at a rate of one quart per ton of grain.

Propylene glycol is the more preferred nonionic surfactant because it is specifically approved for food use by the United States Food and Drug Administration, 21 CFR § 582.4666. Because propylene glycol is approved as a food additive, there are no limitations to the amount employed. Thus, propylene glycol may be used an amount suitable for the end use application. An additional benefit to using propylene glycol is that it has antimycotic properties.

Any suitable base can be used to provide the high pH of the grain conditioning compositions of the invention. Particularly preferred bases are selected from the group consisting of potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium tribasic phosphate, ammonium hydroxide, and potassium carbonate and sodium carbonate.

The nonionic surfactant is used in the grain conditioning composition of the invention at extremely low levels. Generally, a level of use of from about 0.5% to about 1.5%, preferably about 0.8% to about 1.2% is sufficient to provide the benefits of the invention in respect to increased water uptake and increased gelatinization during subsequent steam or dry rolling. The base is present in the grain conditioning composition at a level sufficient to provide a pH of at least about 9 and preferably in the range of about 9 to about 12.

Prior to use, the grain conditioning composition of the invention is diluted with from about 30 to 99 or 30 to 80 parts by weight of water per part of the grain conditioning composition. Furthermore, if so desired, the composition can be used in a concentrated form where the ratio of ingredients are 20 times more concentrated than what is prescribed herein.

As indicated above, in the United States, the rate of application of the grain conditioner, except when propylene glycol is used as the surfactant, is controlled by Federal regulations of the Food and Drug Administration. In accordance with 21 CFR § 573.760, the grain conditioner is applied to the grain at a level of up to about 32 ounces (0.95 liters) per ton of grain. In those countries which do not restrict the rate of application, the grain conditioner may be applied at a level of from about 10.0 ounces (about 0.3 liters) as so desired, but is typically applied to about 100 ounces (about 3 liters) per ton of grain. If the concentrated form of the composition is used, then about 1 to about 2 ounces per ton of grain is generally employed.

EXAMPLES

The trademark of "RED-E-FLAKE™" has been adopted to represent the grain conditioning compositions of the present invention The RED-E-FLAKE™ composition used in the comparative studies discussed hereinbelow had the following ingredients at the indicated level.

EXAMPLE 1

    ______________________________________                                         Ingredient           Percent                                                   ______________________________________                                         Water                67.98                                                     Potassium Carbonate  0.61                                                      Prilled Urea         30.25                                                     Polyoxypropylene glycol-                                                                            1.00                                                      polyoxyethelene glycol (50/50)                                                 Caramel color        .16                                                       ______________________________________                                    

Studies were conducted comparing RED-E-FLAKE™ to other commercially available grain conditioner products. In these studies, the results of which are set forth in TABLES I, II and III, milo, barley and corn treated with RED-E-FLAKE™ before steaming absorbed more moisture and had higher levels of gelatinized starch than grains treated with other products. The best improvement in the digestibility of the steamed grain was achieved with RED-E-FLAKE™. The results reported below indicate that RED-E-FLAKE™ provided increased moisture absorption of 20.9% for corn, 23.0% for barley and 27.8% for milo over the controls where no grain flaking aid was used. Increases over the closest competitive products ranged from 7.8% for milo, 5.7% for barley and 10.1% for corn. This increase in moisture absorption significantly improved the starch gelatinization of the steamed grains over the controls and provided improved starch gelatinization of 2.8% for milo, 0.74% for barley and 1.88% for corn.

The commercially available grain conditioner products had the following pH levels and ingredients:

    ______________________________________                                         Product                                                                        Ingredients       pH                                                           ______________________________________                                         TEMPER ™  1.70     Ammonium lignin sulfonate,                                                     phosphoric acid, propylene                                                     glycol, propionic acid,                                                        anise and polyoxypropylene-                                                    polyoxyethylene glycol                                   E-Z FLAKE ™                                                                              3.50     Lecithin, propionic acid and                                                   water                                                    MYCO-FLAKE ™                                                                             5.35     Water, propionic acid,                                                         acetic acid, benzoic acid,                                                     mono-di-ester of 1,2-                                                          propanediol, ammonium                                                          phosphate, propyl benzoate,                                                    propyl acetate, ammonium                                                       chloride, sodium phosphate,                                                    BHA, sarsaponin                                          A-1 ™     2.70     Propylene glycol, propionic                                                    acid, polyethoxylated - p -                                                    nonyl phenol                                             ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE I                                                          ______________________________________                                         RED-E-FLAKE ™ PEORMANCE WITH MILO                                                              %              %                                                               Mois-          Starch                                                Recomm'd  ture    Relative                                                                              Gel-  Relative                                        Application                                                                              In-     %      atin- %                                      Product  Rate      crease  Change ization                                                                              Change                                 ______________________________________                                         RED-E-   32 oz./ton                                                                               6.57    127.8  66.90 136.1                                  FLAKE ™                                                                     TEM-     32 oz./ton                                                                               6.17    120.0  65.55 133.3                                  PER ™                                                                       A-1 ™ 6 oz./ton 6.00    116.7  66.15 134.6                                  MYCO-    4 oz./ton 5.93    115.4  64.22 130.7                                  FLAKE ™                                                                     E-Z      6 oz./ton 5.67    110.3  63.88 129.9                                  FLAKE ™                                                                     Control  --        5.14    100.0  49.15 100.0                                  (no grain                                                                      conditioner)                                                                   ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE II                                                         ______________________________________                                         RED-E-FLAKE ™ PERFORMANCE WITH BARLEY                                                          %              %                                                               Mois-          Starch                                                Recomm'd  ture    Relative                                                                              Gel-  Relative                                        Application                                                                              In-     %      atin- %                                      Product  Rate      crease  Change ization                                                                              Change                                 ______________________________________                                         RED-E-   32 oz./ton                                                                               8.29    123.0  82.60 106.5                                  FLAKE ™                                                                     TEM-     32 oz./ton                                                                               7.91    117.3  81.86 105.5                                  PER ™                                                                       A-1 ™ 6 oz./ton 7.79    115.6  81.75 105.4                                  MYCO-    4 oz./ton 7.41    109.9  79.87 102.9                                  FLAKE ™                                                                     E-Z      6 oz./ton 7.42    110.0  79.96 103.1                                  FLAKE ™                                                                     Control  --        6.74    100.0  77.58 100.0                                  ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE III                                                        ______________________________________                                         RED-E-FLAKE ™ PERFORMANCE WITH CORN                                                            %              %                                                               Mois-          Starch                                                Recomm'd  ture    Relative                                                                              Gel-  Relative                                        Application                                                                              In-     %      atin- %                                      Product  Rate      crease  Change ization                                                                              Change                                 ______________________________________                                         RED-E-   32 oz./ton                                                                               6.81    120.9  89.13 106.8                                  FLAKE ™                                                                     TEM-     32 oz./ton                                                                               6.24    110.8  87.99 105.5                                  PER ™                                                                       A-1 ™ 6 oz./ton 6.78    120.4  88.19 105.7                                  MYCO-    4 oz./ton 6.19    109.9  85.69 102.7                                  FLAKE ™                                                                     E-Z      6 oz./ton 6.23    110.6  87.05 104.4                                  FLAKE ™                                                                     Control  --        5.63    100.0  83.41 100.0                                  ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 2

In laboratory dry roll simulation (no steam chest) tests, milo, corn or barley treated with RED-E-FLAKE™ absorb moisture faster than other products. Results, as set forth in TABLES IV, V and VI, indicate that after 1 hour, RED-E-FLAKE™ treated milo, corn and barley contained 15.7%, 14.8%, and 16.7% more moisture than controls. Increases over the closest competitor ranged from 5.5% for milo, 7.2% for corn and 7.2% for barley.

Results indicate use of RED-E-FLAKE™ can reduce grain process time compared to other commercial products and no conditioner control.

RED-E-FLAKE™ Performance-Dry Roll Simulation

                                      TABLE IV                                     __________________________________________________________________________     (1) Milo                                                                                  Recommended                                                                            % Moisture (Internal)                                                  Application                                                                            5    30   1   6   24                                        Product    Rate    Minutes                                                                             Minutes                                                                             Hour                                                                               Hours                                                                              Hours                                     __________________________________________________________________________     RED-E-FLAKE ™                                                                          32 oz./ton                                                                             11.50                                                                               14.93                                                                               17.28                                                                              18.00                                                                              18.00                                     TEMPER ™                                                                               32 oz./ton                                                                             10.07                                                                               13.49                                                                               16.37                                                                              18.00                                                                              18.00                                     E-Z FLAKE ™                                                                             6 oz./ton                                                                             10.07                                                                               12.94                                                                               16.00                                                                              17.28                                                                              18.00                                     Control    --       9.17                                                                               11.33                                                                               14.93                                                                              16.56                                                                              18.00                                     __________________________________________________________________________      Sufficient water added to grain to raise internal moisture to 18%.             Initial moisture was 9.0%.                                               

                                      TABLE V                                      __________________________________________________________________________     (2) Whole Corn                                                                            Recommended                                                                            % Moisture (Internal)                                                  Application                                                                            5    30   1   6   24                                        Product    Rate    Minutes                                                                             Minutes                                                                             Hour                                                                               Hours                                                                              Hours                                     __________________________________________________________________________     RED-E-FLAKE ™                                                                          32 oz./ton                                                                             11.48                                                                               15.90                                                                               17.88                                                                              17.87                                                                              17.98                                     TEMPER ™                                                                               32 oz./ton                                                                             10.08                                                                               13.66                                                                               16.67                                                                              17.42                                                                              17.57                                     E-Z FLAKE ™                                                                             6 oz./ton                                                                             10.26                                                                               14.47                                                                               16.97                                                                              17.42                                                                              17.42                                     Control    --       9.36                                                                               11.82                                                                               15.58                                                                              16.97                                                                              17.87                                     __________________________________________________________________________      Initial moisture was 8.80%.                                              

                                      TABLE V                                      __________________________________________________________________________     (3) Barley                                                                                Recommended                                                                            % Moisture (Internal)                                                  Application                                                                            5    30   1   6   24                                        Product    Rate    Minutes                                                                             Minutes                                                                             Hour                                                                               Hours                                                                              Hours                                     __________________________________________________________________________     RED-E-FLAKE ™                                                                          32 oz./ton                                                                             11.53                                                                               13.78                                                                               14.77                                                                              17.72                                                                              18.00                                     TEMP ™  32 oz./ton                                                                             10.27                                                                               12.66                                                                               13.78                                                                              17.44                                                                              18.00                                     E-Z FLAKE ™                                                                             6 oz./ton                                                                             10.13                                                                               12.94                                                                               13.78                                                                              17.02                                                                              18.00                                     Control    --       9.42                                                                               11.67                                                                               12.66                                                                              15.89                                                                              18.00                                     __________________________________________________________________________      Initial moisture was 9.30%.                                              

EXAMPLE 3

In corrosion tests, RED-E-FLAKE™ proved to be the least corrosive of the grain flaking aids tested. Mild steel plates were immersed in the undiluted products for seven days. The plates were weighed and the percent of the plate lost due to corrosion was calculated.

    ______________________________________                                         Corrosion Test                                                                                      % Plate                                                   Product       pH     Lost (7 Days)                                                                              Relative Value                                ______________________________________                                         RED-E-FLAKE ™                                                                             11.00  0.0181        1X                                          A-1 ™      2.70   0.9000      49.7X                                         E-Z FLAKE ™                                                                               3.50   1.1800      65.2X                                         TEMPER ™   1.70   1.6540      91.4X                                         ______________________________________                                    

Corrosion of the metal plate at the interface between the liquid product and the air was also visually observed. RED-E-FLAKE™ showed very little corrosion at this interface which indicates that even in contact with air it will not corrode grain handling equipment.

The grain conditioning composition of the present invention provides increased moisture absorption and improved starch gelatinization of steamed grains in comparison with other commercially available grain conditioning compositions. Additionally, the grain conditioning composition of the present invention is the least corrosive of any grain conditioning compositions presently available.

The trademark RED-E-FLAKE II™ has been adopted to represent the composition containing propylene glycol. In the comparative studies hereafter the RED-E-FLAKE II™ had the following ingredients at the indicated level below:

    ______________________________________                                         *in concentrated form                                                          ______________________________________                                         Water              98.39   67.80                                               Potassium carbonate                                                                               0.61    12.20                                               Propylene glycol   1.00    20.00                                                                  100.00  100.00                                              ______________________________________                                          *The concentrated form is diluted 20-1 before use.                       

The largest RED-E-FLAKE II™ (RF II) market for processing of animal feed was steam flaking. In the process the grain (milo, corn, barley, oats, wheat) was treated with conditioner along with the water necessary to increase the grain moisture from 8-10% to approximately 18%. The treated product was then steamed at 200° F. for 1-2 hours which increased the moisture content to about 20%. The grain was then rolled to form a flake. The job of RF II was to increase moisture uptake during steaming, which reduces flake thickness after rolling. Increased moisture and thinner flakes increase gelatinization of starch (swelling and disruption of starch granules to make it more nutritionally available). Ingredients in RF II (propylene glycol) allowed the flake to retain durability after it dried despite the reduced thickness, translating to less fine material and less waste.

USE OF THE RED-E-FLAKE II™ COMPOSITION FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

Thinner feed grain flakes mean better nutrition, less waste, reduced energy usage, improved appearance.

I. In soybean oil processing for human consumption the process is similar to steam flaking with the thin flakes necessary to increase the grain surface area to improve oil extraction. Flake durability prevents the flakes from breaking into fine material which forms an emulsion with the extraction solvent, hexane. This emulsion reduces the efficiency of the process.

RF II means thinner flakes, increased extraction of oil, reduced power usage and prevention of fines/hexane emulsion.

II. In (wheat) flour milling and corn milling, the grain undergoes a steeping process where the grain is soaked in water until the flour at the interior of the grain reaches a prescribed moisture level. Outer layers of the grain are "shaved" off leaving the flour to be processed. RF II will reduce the steeping time, cut energy costs, and improve the milling process.

RED-E-FLAKE II™ Performace-Dry Roll Simulation

                                      TABLE VII                                    __________________________________________________________________________     (1) Soybeans**                                                                          Recommended                                                                            % Moisture (Internal)                                                  Application                                                                            5    30   1   6    24                                         Product  Rate*   Minutes                                                                             Minutes                                                                             Hour                                                                               Hours                                                                               Hours                                      __________________________________________________________________________     RF II    8 oz./ton                                                                              12.83                                                                               15.89                                                                               17.78                                                                              18.00                                                                               18.00                                      TEMPER ™                                                                             32 oz./ton                                                                             10.46                                                                               13.52                                                                               16.28                                                                              17.89                                                                               18.00                                      E-Z FLAKE ™                                                                          6 oz./ton                                                                              10.49                                                                               13.21                                                                               15.84                                                                              17.62                                                                               18.00                                      Control  --       9.25                                                                               11.08                                                                               13.99                                                                              16.22                                                                               18.00                                      __________________________________________________________________________      *Sufficient water added to raise grain moisture to 18%.                        **Initial grain moisture was 9.0%.                                       

                                      TABLE VIII                                   __________________________________________________________________________     (2) Wheat***                                                                            Recommended                                                                            % Moisture (Internal)                                                  Application                                                                            5    30   1   6    24                                         Product  Rate*   Minutes                                                                             Minutes                                                                             Hour                                                                               Hours                                                                               Hours                                      __________________________________________________________________________     RF II    8 oz./ton                                                                              11.56                                                                               15.16                                                                               17.02                                                                              18.00                                                                               18.00                                      TEMPER ™                                                                             32 oz./ton                                                                             10.46                                                                               13.09                                                                               15.79                                                                              17.41                                                                               18.00                                      E-Z FLAKE ™                                                                          6 oz./ton                                                                              10.18                                                                               12.61                                                                               15.23                                                                              17.00                                                                               18.00                                      Control  --       9.02                                                                               10.26                                                                               12.94                                                                              15.68                                                                               18.00                                      __________________________________________________________________________      ***Initial grain moisture was 8.2%.                                      

                                      TABLE IX                                     __________________________________________________________________________     (3) Corn****                                                                            Recommended                                                                            % Moisture (Internal)                                                  Application                                                                            5    30   1   6    24                                         Product  Rate*   Minutes                                                                             Minutes                                                                             Hour                                                                               Hours                                                                               Hours                                      __________________________________________________________________________     RF II    8 oz./ton                                                                              11.58                                                                               15.48                                                                               17.62                                                                              18.00                                                                               18.00                                      TEMPER ™                                                                             32 oz./ton                                                                             10.36                                                                               13.16                                                                               15.92                                                                              17.72                                                                               18.00                                      E-Z FLAKE ™                                                                          6 oz./ton                                                                              10.38                                                                               13.42                                                                               16.08                                                                              17.80                                                                               18.00                                      Control  --       9.20                                                                               11.91                                                                               13.88                                                                              16.06                                                                               18.00                                      __________________________________________________________________________      ****Initial grain moisture was 8.4%.                                     

                  TABLE X                                                          ______________________________________                                         (1) Soybeans                                                                              Application % Moisture                                                                               Relative %                                    Product    Rate        Increase  Change                                        ______________________________________                                         RF II      8 oz/ton    7.09      118.6                                         TEMPER ™                                                                               32 oz/ton   6.36      106.4                                         E-Z FLAKE ™                                                                            6 oz/ton    6.42      107.4                                         Control    --          5.98      100.0                                         ______________________________________                                    

RED-E-FLAKE II™ Performance-Steam Flaking Simulation

                  TABLE XI                                                         ______________________________________                                         (2) Wheat                                                                                 Application % Moisture                                                                               Relative %                                    Product    Rate        Increase  Change                                        ______________________________________                                         RF II      8 oz/ton    6.95      120.9                                         TEMPER ™                                                                               32 oz/ton   6.32      109.9                                         E-Z FLAKE ™                                                                            6 oz/ton    6.17      107.3                                         Control    --          5.75      100.0                                         ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE XII                                                        ______________________________________                                         (3) Corn                                                                                  Application % Moisture                                                                               Relative %                                    Product    Rate        Increase  Change                                        ______________________________________                                         RF II      8 oz/ton    7.42      132.7                                         TEMPER ™                                                                               32 oz/ton   6.36      113.8                                         E-Z FLAKE ™                                                                            6 oz/ton    6.19      107.7                                         ______________________________________                                     

What is claimed is:
 1. A grain conditioner composition for treating grain prior to rolling the grain into flakes or prior to milling the grain to increase water uptake and gelatinization consisting essentially ofan aqueous solution of a propylene glycol nonionic surfactant and a water soluble base, said base being present at a level sufficient to provide a pH of from about 9 to about
 12. 2. A composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said water soluble base is selected from the group consisting of potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium tribasic phosphate, ammonium hydroxide, potassium carbonate and sodium carbonate.
 3. A composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said surfactant is present at a level of from about 0.5 to about 1.5 percent.
 4. A composition in accordance with claim 3 wherein said surfactant is present at a level of from about 0.8 to about 1.2 percent.
 5. A composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the composition is diluted with water at a ratio of from about 30:1 to about 80:1.
 6. A method for conditioning grain to increase the moisture content thereof and to facilitate flaking of the grain, the method comprising mixing the grain with a composition comprising an aqueous solution of a propylene glycol nonionic surfactant and a water soluble base, the solution having a pH in the range of from about 9 to about
 12. 7. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said surfactant is present in said solution at a level of from about 0.5 to about 1.5 percent.
 8. A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein said surfactant is present in said solution at a level of from about 0.8 to about 1.2 percent.
 9. The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein the base is selected from the group consisting of potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium tribasic phosphate, ammonium hydroxide, potassium carbonate and sodium carbonate.
 10. The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said aqueous solution is mixed with said grain at a level of from about 10 ounces to about 100 ounces per ton of grain.
 11. The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said aqueous solution is diluted with additional water at a ratio of from about 30:1 to about 80:1 prior to mixing with said grain.
 12. The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein the mixture of said grain and said aqueous solution is rolled into flakes.
 13. The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said rolling is effected by dry rolling.
 14. The method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said mixture of said grain and said aqueous solution is subjected to steam treatment prior to said rolling.
 15. A treated grain composition adapted to be rolled into flakes comprising contacting the grain with an aqueous solution of a propylene glycol nonionic surfactant and a water soluble base being present in said solution at a level sufficient to provide a pH of from about 9 to about
 12. 16. A composition in accordance with claim 15 wherein the base is selected from the group consisting of potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium tribasic phosphate, ammonium hydroxide, potassium carbonate and sodium carbonate.
 17. A composition in accordance with claim 15 wherein said surfactant is present at a level of from about 0.5 to about 1.5 percent.
 18. A composition in accordance with claim 17 wherein said surfactant is present at a level of from about 0.8 to about 1.2 percent.
 19. A composition in accordance with claim 15 which is diluted with water at a ratio of from about 30:1 to about 80:1 prior to use. 